Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture

After spending several years touring the country as a stand up comedian, Ed Brayton tired of explaining his jokes to small groups of dazed illiterates and turned to writing as the most common outlet for the voices in his head. He has appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and the Thom Hartmann Show, and is almost certain that he is the only person ever to make fun of Chuck Norris on C-SPAN.

EVENTS

Wingnut Inauguration Prayer Breakfast Even Worse Than Promised

Remember the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, with the controversy over whether Joseph Farah would speak or not? Turns out the actual event was both anti-climactic and even crazier than one could imagine because of who showed up and who didn’t. Right Wing Watch has a report:

After some embarrassing back-and-forth about Farah’s participation, he didn’t show up. Neither did Bachmann, Cantor, Blount or Pat Robertson, though Robertson, Farah, and Pat Boone sent messages that were read out loud. People who did show up representing foreign embassies may have been duped by the name of event into thinking they were attending something connected to the actual inauguration.

Organizers insisted that the event had no political agenda, that it was called simply to pray for President Obama and the nation. But there was plenty of politics. Speakers included Marjorie Dannenfelser of the anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List. Sid Roth, a Messianic Jew and radio host, said there were three sins that cause a land to “vomit out” its people: child sacrifice (abortion), homosexuality, and the “tipping point” sin of dividing up the land of Israel. Stewart Greenleaf, a Pennsylvania state senator, said he could make an argument for Israel’s right to disputed lands based on history, but that the best argument is that “the Lord gave Israel that land.”

Even Pastor Wiley Drake – infamous for his devotion to “imprecatory prayers” against his political opponents, and his admission that he regularly prays for President Obama’s death, was recognized, applauded, and called up to the stage.

Sid Roth, a Messianic Jew and radio host, said there were three sins that cause a land to “vomit out” its people: child sacrifice (abortion), homosexuality, and the “tipping point” sin of dividing up the land of Israel.

Presumably the Mr. Roth is referring to Leviticus 18:28, “And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you.” However, Leviticus 18 lists lots of reasons for “vomiting out” that Mr. Roth misses such as having sex with your stepmother or sister-in-law, or any woman during her menstrual period. Evidently he doesn’t believe in the truth of the Bible.